New First Nations BC Radio Station Granted $180,500

Crystal Rain Harry (left) and Bella Alphonse train with Rob Hopkins from Tagish, Yukon for the new Tsilhqot’in Community Radio station, launched on Friday, Dec. 15. On Monday the federal government announced $180,500 in funding for the radio project.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announced $180,500 for the new First Nations radio station in B.C.’ Interior

A newly created First Nations radio station in the B.C. Interior is receiving $180,500 in program funding the federal government announced Monday.

Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, said the funding is being provided under the Northern Aboriginal Broadcasting component of the Aboriginal Peoples’ Program to the Tŝilhqot’in Community Radio project.

“In order to survive, language and culture must be given a platform for others to hear and be immersed in them,” Wilson-Raybould said. “Getting news or hearing music in your own language is something most Canadians take for granted, and I am proud that our government is investing in a project that brings this same experience to the Tŝilhqot’in Nation.”

Announced last December, Tŝilhqot’in Community Radio is based in Williams Lake.

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It is being developed to provide its audience with access to a variety of programs in Tŝilhqot’in, Carrier, Nuxalk and English, featuring language lessons and interviews; news and community updates; traditional stories and songs; music and comedy segments; and a community morning show. It broadcasts its radio programming to the six Tŝilhqot’in communities in British Columbia.